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SEEIO-COMICAL, SEMI-HISTOEICAL, 
AND QUASI-DIABOLICAL. 






V 



" Satire's my weapon. 

sacred weapon ! left for Truth's defence I 

Truth guards the poet, sanctifies the line, 

And makes immortal, verse as weak as mine."^P0PB. 

' Liberty ! Freedom ! Tyranny is dead ! 
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets ; 
Some to the common pulpits, and cry out : 
Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement ! " — Shakespearb. 



NEW-YORK 




121 NASSAU STREET. 

1865. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by, 

G. W. LLOYD, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern 



District of New-York. 



John A. Gray & Grebn, 
Printers, Stereotypers, and Binders^ 

16 and 18 Jacob Street, New-York. 



INTEODTJCTOET. 



In homespun language, and in jingling verse, 

It is the poet's purpose to rehearse 

Some things which have been chronicled, and some 

Concerning which, as yet, the historian's mum. 

And whether he'll succeed, or whether stick, 

He scouts the shallow, worn, pedantic trick 

Of going on marrow-bones to " invoke the muses." 

No heathen he, nor fop. He rather chooses 

To hold Mmself to answer for his style, 

Whether the critic favor or revile. 

If praise be merited, no praise he'll lack ; 

If blame, he'll bear it on his own broad back. 



iM Mm m mm- 



PAET I. 

Time, a.d. 1782-3. 



Many years ago, as old clironicles show, 
(Where discovered, I stay not to tell you now) 
An alarming stir shook the regions below ; 
And Satan, with all his imps, great and small. 
Floundered strangely about in the fiery glow. 
Stirring up an incandescent squall. 
Oh I dread was the sight ; enough to afiright 
And set all a-quaking a weak mortal wight. 
To witness the rushing, stampeding, and crushing. 
The stumbling, sprawling, elbowing, and pushing, 
That madly ruled in that world of night. 
For seven long days, from various ways, 
Came fiends a-trooping and all a-blaze ; 
It seemed as if hell had turned out, pell-mell, 
Its remotest squatter, on purpose to swell 
Those crowds so filled with alarm and amaze. 



6 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

On, on they came in squadrons of flame ; 
Spirits of noble and ignoble name ; 
The tall and the stately, the squat and the lame ; 
The devils that do the dirty work, 
And the aristocratic that mean labor shirk, 
And ride over the rest in their race for fame. 
(I must tell jou this in parenthesis, 
Not deeming it wise such a chance to miss — 
That down in those regions of drought and dearth, 
In that world of shades, there are numerous grades 
Of society, just like we have on earth ; 
And the " top-sawyer " there his rank j)arades. 
Nay, we copied, I know, from those gentry below, 
Our many distinctions of wealth, race, and birth.) 

But what was this rumpus and uproar about ? 
You are ready to ask me, without a doubt ; 
Why such a commotion ? "Wait, sirs, I've a no- 
tion. 
That by dint of a proper amount of devotion 
On the part of the poet, 'twill all come out. 
For we mean to constrain this fiendish train. 
In rhythmical measure and musical strain. 
To tell the truth ; yes, the devil, forsooth. 
Though he squirm with reluctance, ^nd crave .our 

ruth. 
Shall tell a true story, at least in the main. 



THE DEVIL IN- DIXIE. 7 

"Well, then, to account for this uproar in hell — 
For I'll come to it straight ; not stopping to dwell 
On collateral or introductory matter, 
Nor wishing your sensitive nerves to shatter, 
The wonderful story I'll haste to detail. 

When the last imp had come 'neath the fiery 

dome 
That arches over the desolate home 
Of the father of evil, best known as "the Devil," 
The scene of many a " scrimmage " and revel, 
And the tumult had somewhat subsided, behold I 
A marvellous sight succeeded the scrabble ; 
There uprose a tall throne, that like burnished 

gold 
Eeflected the flames that surged round the rabble. 
Then forward there came, towering high o'er the 

flame, 
The arch-fiend, Diabolus — mark you, the same 
That eluded so deftly the vigilant warden 
Of Adam and Eve in the primitive garden, 
And cunningly duped our ancestral dame. 
Ah ! 'tis no mistake ; that form was old Satan's, 
With caudal appendage, the greatest of great 'uns 
That flapped on hell's billows, and lashed the foam 

higher. 
Or trailed in repose on its flooring of fire. 



8 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

The traditional horns and cloven hoof 
Were, besides, incontrovertible proof 
That he was the potent chief and commander 
Of those crowds of the genus Salamander. 

Well, the Fiend stalked on, and ascended the 
throne ; 
His eyes gleamed like fire with malice and ire, 
As he seated him there all high and alone ; 
His nostrils and mouth vented streams of flame. 
While around him his myrmidons trooping came ; 
'Twas a sight to behold most bewildering and dire. 
Then the trumpets of hell, with discordant yell, 
Sounded a flourish, and silence fell 
On the unclean host ; and, with upturned look, 
They waited until Diabolus spoke. 
And what he said, if you'll hsten I'll tell. 

*' Fellow-devils," said he, " it is plain to see, 
Our schemes are foiled up in yonder world ; 
Freedom's flag is victorious, so lately unfurled ; 
Our good friend King George's Eed-coats are hurled 
Back o'er the Atlantic, sore routed ; ah, me I 
It was my fond hope to have seen a stout rope 
Eound the neck of that man that's made monarchy 

* slope ;' 
My snares, spun and woven so subtle and fine, 
I had warily laid with this very design. 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 9 

That lie and compatriots should dance to the tune 
Of ' God save the King,' in the air, pretty soon ; 
But, lo ! they all straddle triumphant in saddle, 
And King George's men are all on the skedaddle ! 

I need not now mention how great the attention 
I've paid to the ' Land of the Pilgrims ' for ages ; 
It has been to me matter of constant reflection, 
In what way I could foil those old Puritan sages ; — 
Holding on with my well-known powers of reten- 
tion. 
I established a special Bureau of Inspection, 
Whose business it was to make a collection 
Of figures and facts for my guidance, how best 
I could break up that very annoying nest 
Of men who love Liberty, civil and sacred. 
Then, I scattered among them Discord and Hatred, 
And burst them asunder in various sects ; 
Threw plenty'of bones of contention and strife 
Among them, to alienate and to vex. 
And set them to worry each other for life. 
I set by the ears Independent and Qaaker ; 
At loggerheads put Presbyterian and Shaker — 
ISTo, stop I I forgot ; there were no Shakers then; 
Presbyterian and Baptist is what I mean. 

Then, by way of a change, I tried to derange 
Those hard-headed fellows, by causing a strange 



10 ■ THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

Wild feeling to seize them 'bout wizards and 

witclies, 
Till tlieir nerves were nnstrung or jerking with. 

twitches. 
I made them believe, while I laughed in my 

sleeve, 
That the country was full of hags, young and old, 
Who body and soul to myself had sold, 
On no other terms, than, in consideration, 
They may have the agreeable gratification 
To cause whom they pleased to pine, sicken, or 

grieve ; 
To inflict on their foes a good scarification ; 
And torture them sorely with pains of damnation. 
Thus I got them engaged in a holy rage. 
Such as hadn't been known for many an age ; 
'Twas all they could think of, both learned and rude, 
In the crowded mart and the wild- solitude, 
To hunt up the heretic sinners and witches ; 
Imprison the former, and, spite of their screeches, 
The latter hang wp for the general good. 

These plans for a time seemed to work most sub- 
lime; 
And Liberty howled lest her empire was gone ; 
And Keligion gave vent to a terrible groan ; 
There was nothing but seemed with my wishes to 
chime. 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 11 

But at length Common Sense, long held in sus- 
pense, 

Shook her locks of strength, . and asserted her 
right 

To the throne of the mind, and suppressed the af- 
fright 

My spell over sinner and saint had cast ; 

So my hope of gaining by this was past, 

Notwithstanding I spared neither pains nor ex- 
pense. 
What next to do, was the question to view ; 

You'd better believe 'twas a puzzler, too ! 

And my mind for a time was greatly perplexed ; 

Till at last I discovered * John Bull ' was vexed 

With the saucy talk of the men of the West. 

John, seeming determined his power to test. 

Had jerked up the reins of government tighter. 

While Jonathan ' guessed' that they should have 
borne lighter. 

Thinks I to myself, I shall gain from this clatter 

A pretty good lift, or I'll know what's the matter. 

I thought I could put the thing through to my 
mind. 

By stirring up John to go it blind ! 

So I went to work with the zeal of a Turk, 

'Neath St. James' Cabinet table did lurk ; 

And among the results of my smartness and wit, 



12 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

I got Jolin to levy a tax upon tea, 

Well knowing the Yankees would squirm, d'ye see, 

And show their grit without pausing a bit ; 

Then John, who was strong as a bull could be, 

Would rush to the fray, deal hit for hit, 

And smash up the' temple of Liberty. 

Then what a commotion on land and on ocean 

Followed close upon this, you very well know ; 

For you all lent a hand, like good devils, I trow. 

You mind how we grinned at that smart Yankee 
notion, 

Getting up the ' Tea-Party ' in Boston, to go 

And dump a whole ship-load of tea in the water ; 

Ah ! ha ! my dear devils, I cried, we have caught 
her 1 

I couldn't have helped things along in a shorter 

Or handier manner than this — that's so ! 

Now, then, for the tug, said I with a shrug 

Of delight, I have got things fixed quite snug ; 

The hare-brained fellows around those diggings 

Seem determined to follow up what they've begun ; 

And when King Greorge's men, with sword, mus- 
ket, and gun, 

Came in ships of all sizes, and all kinds of rig- 
gings, 

I shrewdly suspected we'd see some fun ; 

For them Yankee chaps don't know how to run. 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 13 

So I hoped they would get particular fits, 
And the shrine of Freedom be battered to bits. 

But I need not detail, for the news would be 
stale ; 
And your memories supply each fact without fail, 
Of the various movements on flood and field. 
And of how John Bull has been forced to yield. 
Ah, me I my imps, it gives me the gripes 
To see that bunting of ' Stars and Stripes ' 
So saucily flinging its folds to the breeze, 
And claiming respect on land and seas. 
It's an ugly look for my cause, I ween, 
And the darkest day I ever have seen I 
The hopes of the human race will rise. 
With that flag a-floating before their eyes ; 
Despots and aristocrats will quail, 
And bigoted ecclesiastics grow pale ; [out, 

For they'll deem that their games are all played 
Now King Greorge's men have faced right about. 
And his rabble of Hessians are put to the rout." 

And here the emotions of poor Old Mck 
Overmastered him quite, and his voice grew thick ; 
And great red-hot tears, like molten steel, 
Down his storm- scarred visage did rapidly steal ; 
And the old lion-hearted Beelzebub 
Was compelled with all his might to blub- 
Ber, until Pandemonium did shake and reel 



14 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

A siglit SO patlietic as tliat miglit well 

Have moved tlie most hard-hearted imps in hell. 

And it did move them, too ; for they all howled 

sore 
With anguish, until they coiild howl no more ; 
While a score of the strongest, than pine-trees 

taller, 
And muscles like oaks of a thousand years, 
Supported their chief, for fear he would fall, or 
The fiery roof shake about their ears. 

But grief spent its strength, and a calm at length 
Came over these troubled spirits once more ; 
Though Diabolus scarcely voided a tenth 
Of the fice and sulphur he'd voided before ; 
And it took him some time — I must say in my 

rhyme — 
To recover his pulse, which had fallen much lower 
Than was ever the case in any past time ; 
And his poor old heart still continued sore. 

He resumed his remarks, but in tretaulous tones, 
And interrupted with sighs and groans, 
That still found vent from the gullets of those 
Whose emotions had risen to higher levels 
Than had been attained by colder devils ; 
And therefore took all the more time to subside, 
And placidly flow with the common tide ; 
At least that's the reason, as I suppose. 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 16 

" My fiends," said lie, " it appears to me, 
(It was all he could do to get the words out,) 
We're in a perplexing fix, without doubt, 
And, our interests being in jeopardy. 
Your collective wisdom is urgently needed, 
As to how we can best repair this rout, 
That our darhng project be no more impeded, 
Kor the cause of Human Freedom succeeded 
By another such lucky and prosperous bout 
As those Western fellows have just perfected. 
Nay, it is most true, we are bound to undo 
The doings of Mister Washington ; 
And if the business be longer neglected, 
We shall surely our culpable laziness rue, 
And be forced to acknowledge ourselves undone. 
Now, my devils true, say, what shall we do 
To remedy this unexpected defeat ? 
I want your advice in less than a trice ; 
Let each wise imp state his particular view 
Of the matter in hand, and I'll make my choice— 
I'm determined — ^before I leave this seat." 

Kow I cannot begin to describe the din 
That rose on the thick sulphureous air. 
And through those cavernous regions resounded ; 
'Twas "confusion" ten thousand times "worse 
confounded :" 



16 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

'Twas Bedlam transferred to those realms of sin ; 
And sufficient tlie stoutest heart to scare. 

Diabolus saw they were wasting time ; 
So, raising his full-length form sublime, 
He struck three times his enormous tail 
On the back of his throne with force tremendous ; 
'Twas a signal he never had known to fail 
In quieting even the most stupendous 
Excitement among his unruly crew ; 
And it answered on this occasion, too. , 

So the rabble vast was in silence hushed ; 
Then in regular form the confab began ; 
And onward the stream of eloquence ran, 
Or rather, like ISTiagara, rushed. 
As each one his favorite plan proj)osed. 
And the why and the wherefore at length dis- 
closed. 
But to tell all the measures that were propounded, 
How the deepest depths of cunning were sounded, 
Would far exceed my descriptive powers, 
And task your patience for hours and hours ; 
Besides, I'd be cramming your aching head 
At a time when you ought to be snoozing a-bed. 
But the final decision I'll try to unfold, 
As the tale in extenso can't now be told. 

The most sapient devil among the crew, 
And one who had had a great deal to do 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 17 

Witli earthly matters, put forth the opinion 
That over the rest was allowed the dominion. 
I will give, in his language, as near as I can, 
The substance of this, the accepted plan : 

^' Most mighty Diabolus ! listen," said he, 
" And worthy imps, all attend unto me ; 

For I think I a feasible plan can see ; 

I have had it some time under consideration ; 

And I'll lay it before you, without hesitation. 
You must know, though the mortals up yonder 
have crossed 

Many schemes and designs upon which we have 
doted, 

Yet our cause is a long way from being lost ; 

Our industry hasn't been all in vain, 

Nay, on the whole, a decided gain. 

How oft our delighted eyes have gloated" 

O'er the mental anguish and bodily pain 

Men at times have inflicted, at times have en- 
dured ^ 

Why, my fellow-imps, you may be assured, 

I have often felt jealous and angry to see 

How they rival us devils in cruelty ! 

And then, they are selfish as selfish can be, 

Despotic, licentious, proud, and malignant ; 

I vow, I can hardly help feeling indignant ; 



18 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

For "US, tlieir instructors, tliey almost exceed' : 

We must study hard, fellow-devils, indeed. 

Or I shan't be surprised if they yet take the lead ! 

Now eveiy fiend of common-sense 
Cannot fail to see, as a consequence, 
Our capital yet is of vast amount, 
And all standing ready to turn to account. 
Nay, up to the time of my hastening here, 
I have kept it pretty well floating there, 
'Mong the very folks whose especial affairs 
Are the subject now of our onerous cares. 
Don't you know that for years, my worthy com- 
peers, 
"We have had a most flourishing school of instruc- 
tion 
In both Eastern and Western Hemispheres ? — 
And how this thing, so weighty^ your minds failed 

to cross, 
I declare, to account for, I'm quite at a loss ! — 
The system is one of our own construction, 
And wisely designed for the thorough reduction 
Of civilized man to a savage state ; 
To foster cupidity, cruelty, hate ; 
To obfuscate the reason, and harden the heart ; 
And, indeed, fit the pupil to act well the part 
Of a very respectable devil. And so, 
To illustrate what foresight we fiends possess, 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 19 

It is only just needM for me to show 
An historical fact. 'Tis no more nor less 
Than this : — Ah ! I see you're beginning to guess I 
You're intelligent devils, I must confess. 
I'll proceed, though, in spite of your manifest wit ; 
For I still can enlighten your noddles a bit, 
My experience having been wide and plenty: 
In the year one thousand six hundred and 
twenty — 
The very same year that the ' Pilgrims ' landed 
On Plj^mouth Rock — we'd contrived, you know, 
That a matter of twenty negToes, or so. 
Should be in the * Old Dominion ' stranded. 
The ship's captain sold them all in a trice ; 
And we took good care it should be at a price 
To make it worth while as a speculation : 
And, maugre all fear of coming damnation. 
For pirates of Britain, and Holland, and Spain, 
And Portugal, also, to voyage the main 
For plethoric cargoes of African savages. 
Nor was it a matter of serious objection. 
Or cause of unpleasant, foreboding reflection. 
That Africa's wild and uncivilized plains . 
Should witness such horrible, pitiless ravages, 
As the lust of these devils incarnate incited. 
Ah ! don't you remember how we were delighted 
At this most successfal result of our pains ? 



20 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

And how, -when the merciless villains displayed 
Such perfect delight in the murderous trade, 
We thought we might safely leave all its affairs 
In their blood-spattered hands, while our arduous 

cares 
Were devoted to matters more needing our aid ? 
Well, just look how the business has grown on 

their hands. 
And covered with slaves yonder Western lands ! 
A thousand ships' decks are red with the stains 
Of the negro's blood ; and the clanking of chains 
Is heard far and wide, from Ontario's wave. 
To where Mexico's Gulf doth the Continent lave I 
Only here and there is a free spot left. 
That has not witnessed the devilish theft 
Of man from himself! Yes, those Liberty-lovers 
Are steeped to their chins in the blood of the 

slave ; 
Are the cronies of vile piratical rovers, 
That trade in the bodies and souls of men I 
Kow, these facts are exceedingly cheering ; but 

then, 
There's another side to the question, I trow ; 
There arc many amongst them, I'd have you know, 
Who are made up of stern old Puritan stuff ; 
And who deem they have had rather more than 

enough 



..THE DEVIL m DIXIE. 21 

Of the blood and tlie sweat, tlie slirieks and the 

tears 
Of the wretched bondman ; and they talk right 

along 
About * violence,' ' cruelty,' ' outrage,' and ' wrong;' 
Expressing, with constant remonstrance, their feS,rs 
That the vengeance of Heaven will not tarry long, 
Ere it smite with destruction and ruin profound 
The nation thus trampling the poor in the ground. 
ISfor are they content with talking, alone ; 
I'm, moreover, aware that Heaven's high throne 
Is besieged by these men with vehement cries. 
That the Just and Holy One would arise 
To deliver those whom the tyrants despise 
And trample upon. And besides, the prayers 
Of the victims themselves ascend with theirs ; 
And too well we know the disposition 
Of Him we hate : though he may delay 
For a while to make strict inquisition, 
Yet may he, at no very distant day, 
Arise in his strength, like an armdd man, 
And crush with his irreversible ban 
The whole of our dear man-stealing crew. 

But I'm looking a little too far ahead ; 
Let's confine our thoughts to the present instead. 

Now what I propose to do, if we can. 
Is, to iiim this sympathetic tide. 



22 THE DEVIL IN" DIXIE. 

That already has flowed too far and wide ; 
And persuade these Puritans to decide 
That the black-hided man is simply a beast 
Of burden, or something near it, at least ; 
Or, failing of this, I would make them believe, 
That, consistent with strictest piety. 
They may take the scheme as a providence kind, 
And wisely and opportunely designed, 
For a ready-constructed Mission Society^ 
Through which these savages, mentally blind, 
Might receive much more than a quid pro quo. 
In the form of instruction in Gospel truth ; 
And so, these Christians, without any ruth. 
Might behold the slave-ships come and go ; 
Kegard the slave-trader a sort of ' stool-pigeon ' 
For trapping the blacks in the net of religion ! 
Nay, more, with clear conscience invest their cash 
In a ' nigger or two,' and even the lasli 
Ply over their carcases, merely to prove 
To those unsophisticated blacks. 
How consistent it may be with Christian love, 
To exact their labor, so honestly (! ) bought, 
By benevolent whacks on their naked backs ; 
In return for which, they'd be orally taught 
To hopefully look for salvation above / 

From this, it will be but a gentle transition, 
To regard as a part of their holy mission, 



THE DEVIL IN. DIXIE. 23 

The setting up of the Audi on- Block 
In every city and town in the land, 
From the western waters to eastern strand, 
Upon which to expose for convenient sale, 
Their well-sleeked herds of human stock ! 

And oh ! dear devils, I'm greatly in error — 
Nay, I would be willing to wager my life. 
If there wouldn't ensue a grand ' Eeign of Ter- 
ror' — 
If the wild and hope-expiring wail 
Of the plundered father and heart-broken mother. 
The vain cries of parted husband and wife, ' 
Of outraged sister, and manhood-tjrushed brother, 
At scenes like this, will not soon prevail 
The voice of protesting Freedom to smother ; 
And finally lay, prostrated in dust. 
That long-si ghed-for object of human trust. 

And then we can help this business along — 
If we can't, I think it would be a pity — 
At the present juncture, by mingling among 
Those American sages, in Congress met . 
At this very time in tliat famous ' City 
Of Brotherly Love.' You do not forget 
That that dignified body are gathered there. 
From each of the Thirteen Colonies sent, 
To settle the matter of government j 



24 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

To enact such fandamental laws, 

As, in view of tlie good of the common cause, 

Thej shall, in their wisdom, see fit to declare 

To be needful to join in a federal band 

The several States ; thus united to stand 

For mutual defence and preservation. 

On the basis firm of one common nation. 

They are pretty good men, as i^e world goes, I 

know; 
But yet, if it's needful, I'm ready to show 
That they are not beyond diabolic temptation. 
Already, indeed, I find that dissension 
(And credit this fact to our cunning invention) 
Is dividing their counsels. Those Puritan chap% 
Foreseeing disunion and other mishaps 
May, probably, grow from the knavery 
Of the mad devotees of slavery, 
Want to stop the nefarious traffic in souls ; 
But the slaveocrats' power the council controls ; 
And if Puritan piety will not submit, 
They will muster their forces and threaten to split. 
So you see, fellow-devils, .there's work for us there. 
To assist them in putting their matters all square I 
Our interest, at once we shall see, if we're wise. 
Is to help them concoct a Compromise ; 
'Twill be better for us than their splitting asunder, 



THE DEVIL m DIXIE. 25 

If such a contingencj sTiould fall out ; 

Though I think they know better what they're 

about. 
Because, just as soon as the foreign war-thunder 
Is heard again on those Western shores, 
With the view of settling up old scores, 
They'll again join hands for the common defence ; 
And this new necessity pressing them hard, 
The slavists will listen to common-sense, 
And their favorite ' Institution ' discard. 
The result will be,* such an organization [nation 
As will make them, ere long, the most powerful 
That ever the sun looked down upon ; 
And our chance of strangling Freedom is gone. 
We must get them, I say, then, a League to 

agree to. 
One of whose recognized objects shall be, to 
Secure as the right of the dominant class, 
The holding for ever the dark-skinned race 
As a toiling and fettered substructural mass, 
To be held and regarded as merely chattel. 
In the same category with horses and cattle ; 
To be branded, or tortured with paddle or lash, 
At the owner's pleasure or view of the case ; 
Or be even commercially turned into cash. 
Or should the said chattel be ever so rash 
As to give his master 'leg-bail,' and dash 



26 THE DEVIL IK DIXIE. 

For coveted liberty, then, sans demur , 
As oft as a case like tliis shall occur, 
To be caught, and rendered by process brief, 
As though he were an assassin or thief 
All which to be settled as firm as can be, 
By the binding prescription of lex terrm!^ 

And thus, you perceive, not a rood of soil 
Shall be free to those victims of fetters and toil, 
Through all the fair and wide extent 
Of Freedom! s share of the continent ! 
Mountain and valley, forest and plain, 
The shore of river and inland main, 
The dreary wilderness solitude. 
And the region of civilized habitude, 
■ Populous city and ruined mound, 
Swamp, prairie, and dell, rocky cleft, and cave. 
All alike shall be hunting-ground, 
Where canine, and more brutish human hound. 
Shall run down the liberty- courting slave. 
Who, to grasp his prize, shall embrace his grave. 

Oh ! what jolly, delighted devils we'll be, 
When the pleasing results of our policy 
Shall gladden our eyes ! for, listen to me ; 
The hundredth part has scarcely been told ; 
'Twould take me days — ^yes, weeks to unfold 

* The law of the land. 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 27 

The moral confusion 'twill bring about ; 

The negro's enslavement's a trifling part 

Of the purpose most clear to my pitiless heart. 

'Tis but little that this inflated lout — 

This stuck-up 'white '—shall deny the right, 

To the victim crushed by his meanness and might, 

To own himself, or children, or wife ; 

And doom him to wear out his bitter life 

In the dreary task of bringing grist 

To the mill of Freedom^s Monopolist. 

I fully expect that 'twill not be long, 
Ere this race, so selfish, vain, and strong, 
Claiming, forsooth, the name ' Caucasian,' 
Will have little left of a Jjuraan heart. 
The lessons learned in Slavery's school, 
And the- tasted sweets of despotic rule. 
Will for ever seal up the springs of compassion ; 
And transform it into the counterpart 
Of our own infernal brotherhood. 
fellow imps ! wont that be good ? 
Oh ! sure it will be- fun worth running to see, 
These redoubtable champions of Liberty (!) 
Mocking the wrongs of a prostrate race ; 
And avowing Negro Bondage the base 
Of all that's worth calling Human Eights ; 
And the brand, and the whip, and the coflle, and all 
The devilish adjuncts of chattel- thrall, 



88 THE DEVIL IX DIXIE. 

Not only oonsLsteat) but needful even 

To constitate the patnof s Leaven ; 

TTiat he the most of manliness sliows, 

"WTio at every * nigger ' turns up liis nose, 

A.: 1 l.as every vein in hia bosom froze, 

Pir : "::_ svmpatliy's tide to rmi 

To~ ,: ; : V clieated, robbed, rogue-ridden one! 

More than this youTl espy, or tell me I lie ; — 
The tear of pity in woman^s eye, 
That men used to think became it so well, 
Shall cease to sparkle with tremulous sheen ; 
Nay, her gentle heart shall cease to feel, 
And become as hard as high-tempered steel ; 
And never again shall her bosom swell 
In soft condolence with sorrow, I ween ; 
Enough for the stultified conscience shall be 
The answer : * Its only a nigger, you see !' 

Thus, my scheme will work a fine social muss. 
Let me now its political side discuss. 
But, no ! I needn't on this long dwell ; 
In two or three words the results 1*11 foreteU. 

K we can persuade them to make this arrange- 
ment, 
In the hope of heading off future estrangement, 
It wiU answer our puq>oses just to the nick, 
By working in this satisfactory way. 
The traders in human flesh will grow 



BEVIL ES* DTTTK. 29 



More exacting and arrogant day by day ; 

And the others will deem it politic 

To let them bear imlimited sway 

In the nations affairs ; and will cringe and bow, 

Not daring to say their souls are their own ! 

For fear of incurring the slaveocrat's firown, 

Or worse — lest they'd tear the Union down. 

Thus, dear imps, we'll have a nice bone to pick 
In a generation or two, at most ; 
For that vaunted land of * the noble firee ' 
Will then be hectored by Slavery ; 
And Freedom, pining with grief and shame, 
At the meanness and villainy wrought in her name, 
Her hopes all shattered, her purposes crossed, 
Will lie down in despair, and give up the ghost ; 
And Treason and Tyranny s banner shall wave 
Victorious over her dishonored grave ; 
And we, as happy as devils can be. 
Will hold an infernal jubilee ; 
And aU the caverns and dungeons of Hell 
Shall resound with the loud, triumphant yell 
That announces the final success of our plan — 
Blotting out the last hope of despairing man." 

The fiend ceased with this peroration ; 
And it seemed as if the whole creation^ 
From its centre to its circumference, 



30 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

"Was shaken and heaved by the mightj sliont 
That arose from the throats of this impious rout. 
Thej, one and all, applauded the sense, 
The -wit, the judgment, the eloquence 
Of the specious imp who had raised their hope, 
By indicating such marvellous scope 
For the exercise, in a manner fit, 
• Of their infernal cunning and wit ; 
And rapture gleamed from the fiery eyes 
Of the grim and thunder-browed Prince of the Pit ; 
And he took his lieges all by surprise, 
By descending from his lofty seat. 
And rushing with open arms to greet 
The imp who'd afforded them all such a treat. 

" My dear, my precious, my eloquent elf. 
Thou very counterpart of myself ! 
I thank thee, as only Diabolus can. 
For unfolding to us this exquisite plan. 
I scarcely can tell which most to commend, 
Thy head or thy heart ; and now I intend 
To show my unqualified approbation 
By advancing thee to the highest station 
In this my Infernal Government. 
Lo ! honor and dignity, next to my throne, 
I now vouchsafe as thy very own. 
In the widest meaning and fullest intent." 



THE DEYTL IS DIXIE. 31 

The fiend bowed his caput low ; 
And, whether the rest were jealous or no, 
Thej all applauded with one accord 
The decree of their unrelenting lord. 
Thej knew it would not avail to discuss 
The right of precedence, or kick up a fuss ; 
For Lucifer's word was ever a law, 
And for all their grumbling he'd care not a straw, 

His Satanic Highness proceeded to say, 
That he wouldn't tarry another day ; 
But set out at once for the world above, 
In order, without delay, to move 
The powers he had at his commaud, 
In setting a-going the business in hand. 
And commanding his trusty guards to stand 
All ready plumed, with himself to fly 
With lightning wings to Dixie's land, 
He adjourned the meeting sine die. 

So the rabble departed, as merry-hearted 
As you could expect such a rabble to be ; 
At least, their eloquent brother 'd imparted. 
To both devils of high and low degTce, 
A modified pleasure, to think that a chance 
Was left them still their cause to advance, 
And strike the death-blow of Liberty. 
They were sanguine devils, every one ; 
And though Providence often spoiled their fun, 



32 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

With eacli defeat their will grew the stronger, 
And they held to their purpose the harder and 

longer, 
"Whenever they hoped a defeat to redress. 
Or discovered a loophole that promised success. 

Forthwith, with eager and rapid pinions, 
Diabolus flew with his trusty minions ; 
And the dismal realms of brooding night 
And Stygian flood were soon lost to their sight ; 
And in far less time than it takes in my rhyme 
To announce their flight, they did all alight 
On the whirling orb upon which we dwell. 
Though millions of leagues from the confines of 

Hell. 
For to swim or to walk, to fly or to climb, 
These devils could all do equally well, 
And that in the briefest space of time. 
No weariness felt they, nor staid they at all, 
Till they landed in "Independence Hall ;" 
Some swooping down the chimney tall ; 
And others contracting their forms so small, 
That the keyhole afforded them easy ingress 
To the chamber where sat the American Congress. 
Of course, they were all invisible 
To the ken of the keenest mortal sight ; 
Indeed, they would have been baffled quite 



THE DEVIL m DIXIE. 33 

In the object thej souglit, could they have been 

canght; ^ 
And all their designs wonld have come to nanght, 
And their schemes have turned out infeasible. 
But being unseen by human eye, 
"Wherever they chose to creep or fly, 
The wisest and best were exposed to the hap 
Of falling into the devil's trap. 

And so it turned out in the present case ; 
Though the Devil didn't show his face, 
You may traces find of his unclean paws, 
If you take the trouble to look at a clause 
Or two — nay, or three, of the Constitution 
That closed up the work of the Kevolution. 
Thus, that famous American " Magna Charta,^^ 
That the heroes of freedom wished, and that ought 

to 
Have stood at the summit of human laws, 
Was marred by the deep and ugly stain. 
Of legally binding with stronger chain 
An already fettered and prostrate race I 

Ah ! then did Liberty hide her face 
For very shame at her sons' disgrace ; 
And she trembled, lest her new-built fane 
Should prove but a bubble, hollow and vain I 

But then this parchment celebrated. 
And high 'mong legistical monuments rated — 



34 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

By dint of consummate political wit, 

'Twas contrived its forensic language should fit 

The lofty views so ably stated 

In that document known as " The Declaration 

Of Independence," by which the nation 

Had incontrovertibly vindicated 

The right of every wronged aspirant 

For liberty, to resist the tjrrant ; 

And, claiming the boon the Creator gave, 

Fight for it rather than be a slave. [lieve it. 

So, 'twas couched in terms that men should be- 
Never the chain of a slave would weld, 
IsTor forge a bolt, nor hammer a rivet ; 
But, '■^persons to service or labor lield^"^ 
Escaped, to their claimants should rendered be ; 
' — Can't you the plain distinction see ? 
'Tis as clear as the clearest mud to me ! — 
Then those modest claimants should have, moreover. 
Through twenty yearly circles more, 
The privilege granted them to recover 
Other " persons " they claimed on Africa! s shore / 
You see, there's no issue that needs agitation 
'Tween this and the Freeman's " Declaration !" 

Devil ! most cunning, most shrewd, most wise ! 
Thine was a masterly compromise I 
The blending of light with the darkness of night ; 
Of Slavery's wrong with Liberty's right ; 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 35 

The " iron and clay " of that image tall, 
That of old, provisioned the rise and fall 
Of Eome, whose sceptre ruled the world ; 
Who at last, for her crimes, to perdition was hurled. 
Well mightst thou expect that this impious fusion 
Of good with evil, of truth with delusion. 
Would one day lead to the wildest confusion 
That jarring^lements ever wrought ; 
And, unless thy schemes be bafilcd, be fraught 
With disaster and ruin, that needs must impart 
Most boundless delight to thy ruthless heart I 
But whether or no, foul anarchy's seeds 
Are broadly sown throughout the nation ; 
Concord like this to fell discord leads. 
And prepares the land for such castigation 
As devils, no doubt, would rejoice to see come, 
But patriots pray to be rescued from I 

But a truce to apostrophe ! let us proceed 
To show the results of this sorry deed. 



PART 11. 

Time, a.d. 1863. 



AisT) now I'll presume you will just assume 
That three fourths of a centurj, almost, elapse, 
Since old Lucifer laid those wily traps, 
In which he caught those short-sighted chaps 
In that Philadelphia council-room, 
Ere the scenes I am now about to unfold 
Are in Pandemoniac annals enrolled. 
The place is the same, though the time far apart ; 
That's all I need tell you, before I start. 
On my story's second and final part. 

I take you, then, once more to the den 
Where the councils of devils, their feasts, fasts, 

and revels. 
Are commonly held. Had I time, I would fain 
Describe its appointments in graphic strain ; 
But I haven't. And yet you must stretch your 

travels 



THE DEVIL m DIXIE. 37 

In thouglit, wliere I took you awhile ago, 
In order the rest of my story to know. 

There's a rabble there now, and a mighty " tow- 
row ;" 
But a different animus stamps their mien ; 
The wrinkles of care are smoothed from the brow 
Of every imp that graces that scene ; 
All about them is joy, unmixed with alloy ; 
Something's hapjDcned their former gloom to de- 
stroy ; 
They have all heard encouraging news, I ween. 

Once more stalks Diabolus into that hall, 
"Where his lieges are mustered, great and small ; 
And a pleasant smile lights his features grim — 
A rather unusual look for him I 
With his once faltering step now confident grown, 
Again he ascends his flaming throne. 

Commanding silence by wave of hand. 
His numerous hosts now facing him stand ; 
He blandly greets them ; and, let me mention 
Another act of his condescension : 
He at once assumes a familiar air, 
And calls them all "brothers!" — it made them 

stare. 
They could scarcely realize where they were, 
So much had Lucifer's sternness unbent. 
And such kindness in every feature was blent. 



88 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

» 

" Brothers !" said lie, " I have summoned you here, 
To share in my rather uncommon cheer ; 
To-day we shall join in a grand celebration, 
That will make full amends for our past vexation. 
Joy shall resound through my wide domains ; 
Victory at last crowns our toils and pains ; 
For we've fixed for certain yon Yankee nation. 
For ages I've worked and watched for this day ; 
It is come ! it is come, after long delay ! 
Prepare then, each one, for a high jubilation, 
Such as never was known in my realms in the 

past, 
And the memory of which shall for ever last. 

The programme is as follows : Attention, I 
pray ! 
First, let the artillery of Hell resound 
An infernal salute of a thousand round ; 
Let a million brazen trumpets bray ; [fells 

Let the gongs and the bells wake the gorges and 
Of this fiery dominion that owns my sway : 
And when the first gun has the racket begun. 
Let every devil do his best, 
■ In shouting, to show creation the zest 
With which he hails the work so well done, 
And the joy which Tophet's wide empire swells. 

And next, let a grand procession form — 
You needn't mind, if the weather is warm ; 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 39 

You can all stand lieat, I know, pretty well ; 
We are all of ns somewhat accustomed to dwell 
In a climate that's rather tropical ! 

Well, then, the moment the signal blares, 
Let the revellers all in order fall, [squares, 

And march through the principal streets, and 
And roads, and avenues of this 
My stately and royal metropolis. 
Let my palace band, with its clamor grand. 
In this mighty pageant lend a hand ; 
Let ten thousand flaunting banners stream, 
Ten thousand volcanoes their fires gleam ; 
In short, neither cost nor labor spare. 
Our rapturous, measureless joy to declare. 

And lastly J let my subjects all 
Assemble themselves in this regal hall. 
To hear a synopsis of what has been done 
In the land of Dixie to warrant this fun." 

He said ; and away the rabble all went 
To carry this programme out intent ; 
A^d in less than a twinkle the cannon roared, 
And the flaunting banners, by thousands, soared 
From every tower and giddy height- 
It was an exciting and wonderful sight ; 
But the favorite flag— you could count it by scores, 
Was the Devils own flag— the ''Stars and BarsT 



40 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

Yolcanoes sprang forth, by magic, it seemed, 
And o'er tlie wild scene their fires gleamed ; 
The music rattled and crashed — you see, 
"We call it " music " hy courtesy. 
Such music ! No mortal, I do believe, 
Could ever listen to it and live ! 

The procession moved on in rollicking glee, 
Surging along like a storm-lashed sea ; 
But the noise was greater than tempest e'er wrought, 
Surpassing description, yes, even thought I 
There were sights of wild wonder and novelty 
To be seen wherever the vast mob went, 
Grotesque in their nature, and grand in extent. 
An air of triumph did all infect, 
Each imp walking proudly with tail erect. 
And many a one in that crowd could boast 
On the tip of his tail a dead rebel's ghost ! 
One sported a Judge, who had made the decision. 
That a black man in chains was his normal con- 
dition ; 
On another's rode high a pro-slavery Preacher, 
Who'd perverted the words of the heavenly Teach- 
er; 
On another's was perched an Editor vile, 
"Who, to prop up his party, 'd told lies by the score ; 
And secesh politicians, a thousand or more, 
Decked the tails of as many imps in fine style ; 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 41 

And they'd stuck ('tis as true as you ever were 

born) 
A jpro-slavery Christian on every horn I 

But, there ! I must hold ; for I cannot recite 
A millionth part of this wonderful sight. 
Suffice it, then, that I finally write — 
There were diabolical fitness and taste ' 

In the endless fixings that lavishly graced 
This monster carnival of the Pit ; 
In short, 'twas a triumph of impish wit. 

The procession has ended its serpentine course, 
And each devil has shouted until he is hoarse, 
Yet still mad with joy as devil could be. 
You may smile at the thought of felicity 
Pervading the air of so dismal a den ; 
Yet 'tis true as the rest of my tale ; but then, 
Of course I am speaking comparatively. 
It was, after all, such a queer sort of glee, 
As I hope may ne'er visit you or me I 

And now they all stride through the portals 
wide, 
That afforded them access on every side. 
To the great council-chamber, where, sitting in 

state, 
The grim old king did their presence await. 
You wonder not how they all got in ; 
You knew before that these imps of sin 



42 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

Can compress tliemselves into the smallest place, 
Or expand, till they fill a tremendous space. 

But whose is that form on the orator's stand, 
Thus smiling and bowing with gesture bland ? 
We have seen before that unique devil, sure ! 
Ah ! yes, you remember the demagogue grand, 
"Who seventy years ago, and more, 
Had boldly stood on that very floor, 
And moved with his eloquence, wisdom, and wit. 
The heart of each imp of the Bottomless Pit ; 
And, besides, had old Lucifer's mind so impressed. 
That he set him on high above the rest ; 
Had adopted his plans to knock Liberty over, 
And damage her so that she couldn't recover. 
The chronicles tell us, in sentence brief. 
That Diabolus made him comniander-in-chief 
Of his forces in Dixie and all the word over ; 
That he swore a big oath that he'd bring to grief 
The noisy humanitarian crew 
That had given them all so much to do. 
And now he is there to tell them how 
Untiringly faithful he's been to that vow ; 
And how wisely and bravely he's wrought out his 

scheme. 
And wakened expectant man from his dream 
Of the "good time coming," and made him bow 
His. head in the dust of despondency low. 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 43 

He rose, and, his eloquence to inspire, 
He first took a drink of liquid fire ; 
And tlien commenced a "masterly speecli," 
• The details of which we cannot now reach ; 
The most salient points, however, I'll touch ; 
And the matter of these will be as much 
As will be prudent for me to mention, 
For I would not overtax your attention. 

He began with the plainest matter of fact, 
All tending to show his consummate tact ; 
And to force upon his hearers' convictions 
His skill in fulfilling his own predictions, 
Made so many years back in the hearing of all 
Assembled then in that council-hall. 
He told how he set himself first to corrupt 
The pulpit and press, the bar and the forum, 
Throughout the dominions of "Uncle Sam;" 
And- successfully managed his sophisms to cram 
In the heads of the leaders of public opinion ; 
And 'twas the absurdest and vilest jorum 
That ever could possibly hold dominion 
In the minds of men who claim to be sane. 
Heresy, civil and sacred, he emptied 
Into ear, heart, and conscience, a deadly bane ; 
Now he coaxed, now bullied, now threatened, now 

tempted, 
Leaving no stone unturned his point to gain. 



44: THE DEVIL IN" DIXIE. 

" Behold my success !" said he, with a grin 
That showed all his teeth, " it takes me to win ! 
I have gotten a race of political tricksters. 
Such as never before the world has seen ; 
Eichelieu, Macchiavelli, and Talleyrand, too, 
Were but fools, when compared with this villainous 

crew. 
And, best of all, they are permanent fixtures 
In the spacious dwelling of ' Uncle Sam ;' 
Hoodwinking for ever with impudent flam 
That simple old soul, till ruin shall run 
Like fiery lava o'er all his domains. 
And the freedom he boasts prove nothing but 

chains. 
Ah ! ha ! that's a sample of what IVe done !" 
Then he went on to show how he got them 
a-fighting 
In the halls of Congress for plunder and wrong ; 
How their power increased and their hands grew 

strong ; 
How they went abroad through the land, de- 
lighting 
The gaping throng with their legerdemain ; 
So perverting each simpleton's moral sight, 
That black appeared white and darkness light, 
Iniquity good, and righteousness vain ; 
Driving mercy before them wherever they went ; 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 45 

On Slavery's power and extension intent, 
And ever on Lucifer's interests bent. 
Lncifer, Slavery, Selfishness, Plunder, 
Must succeed, all alike, or together go under ; 
This was their creed, and they stuck to it well ; 
How well, none so well as this imp could tell. 
Then he told them how journalists, greedy for 
pelf, 
Had body and soul sold out to himself, 
And had joined with great gusto the rascally herd, 
And alike took their cue when he gave them the 
word; 
*' Though," said he, " it is true, there still are a few 
"Who can't be bought over to take such a view 
Of a patriot's duty as I would present it ; 
And continue up to this day to resent it 
But my friends have pretty much put them down. 
And they're rather under the popular frown ; 
Still, though hope for their cause from them long 

must have fled, 
I cannot help wishing they all were dead. 
I'd give one of my horns if they'd knock on the 

head 
One Horace Greeley^ the chief of the band ; 
He's the one I have dreaded the most in the land. 
But why talk I thus ? Hence, forebodings ! away ! 
"Why intrude on the joy that crowns us to-day ? 



46 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

The victory's ours ; there can be no mistake ; 
Why, we're celebraliing dead Freedom's wake !" 
('Twas strange, while this imp's sun of joy shone 

so bright, 
This cloud should pass o'er it and dim its light !) 
In calmer mood, he went on to say 
That he couldn't have hoped to gain the day, 
With the help of e'en press and politicians ; 
He must others secure, whose commanding posi- 
tions 
Gave them over the people a powerfal sway. 
" So," said he, "I labored with all my might. 
To get the divines of the country all right. 
Some I found ready — they fell into line ; 
But others, I knew I couldn't make mine, 
Without employing my cunning finesse ; 
And, perhaps, laying on them a little stress 
Of worldly, pressure — so tighten the screws. 
That they'd feel it their interest not to refuse 
To sail with the popular current along. 
That now had set in my favor strong. 
I couldn't, of course, hope to get them all ; 
Yet expected to make a pretty good haul. 
And I did ; why, would you believe it, my fiends? 
I succeeded beyond my most sanguine hopes ; 
They flocked to my standard in perfect troops, 
And helped with a will to accomplish my en da 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 47 

. The way-I managed was simply thus : 
I set my new allies at work liard and fast ; 
And they soon stirred up a tremendous muss, 
By denouncing the crime of ' political preaching,' 
And raging against ' abolitionist teaching ;'- 
And multitudes took up the matter at last ; 
Swore they'd stop the parsons' bread and butter. 
If they dared another word to utter, 
That bore on political questions at all ! 
Church-members by thousands took part in the 

movement, 
And vowed there must be a decided improvement 
In the way that their pastors handled their text, 
Or they'd better look out, for they'd get themselves 

vexed. 
* Give us Gospel !' they clamored, 'that's what we 

want. 
And none of your anti-slavery rant I' 
So, fearing the vengeance that threatened to fall, 
Lots of them hastened to stand from under 
The terrible bolts of this popular thunder. 
Some only consented to liold their peace^ 
Hoping thus to escape some conscience-twinges ; 
But others swung round like doors on their hinges ; 
I'm mostly indebted of course to these. 
Though I thank the others for easing my task, 
By wearing the non-committal mask. 



48 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

My work was now easy, I felt assured, 
With this competent help I'd thus secured. 
Some day we will give them a warm reception, 
To show how we valued their useful deception !" 
A cheer from the crowd this sally met ; 
Such a cheer ! if you'd heard it you'd never forget. 
He went on to say, when the cheering was over. 
That it didn't take long, then, the land to cover 
With conservative pulpits and jiious presses 
Which attributed all the benignant graces 
To .the hatefulest monster begotten by devils, 
The fruitful est conglomeration of evils 
That ever grew 'midst the human race. 
Its indelible shame, its eternal disgrace. 
He called it his " beautiful Pandora's box," 
And '' the sjDlendid American Paradox ;" 
And tears of joy down his face did fall, y 
As he told how zealous those parsons were all. 

" Why," said he, ''these saints talk like this to their 
people," 
(Here he whined, and mimicked a pious face :) 

" ' My brethren, there doesn't stand a church steeple 
Beneath which a greater heresy's tanght, 
Kor a doctrine with greater mischief fraught, 
Than that which asserts that all men are made free ; 
A mere glittering generality 
Is that dogma of Human Equality. 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 49 

Cursed be Canaan, tlae patriarcli' said, 

A servant of servants for aye shall he be ; 

That settles the negro's status, you see ! 

Would ye take, then, the thought in your foolish 

head, 
That opposes high Heaven's most plain decree ? 
I beseech you, let the negro be I 
He's far better off in his present station ; 
And it is at the risk of your soul's damnation, 
If you dare to commit the impious folly, 
Of laying rude hands on such property holy. 
Besides, if you touch that divine Institution, 
You're committing a breach of the Constitution 1 
Kun on for a while at that radical rate, [State, 
And you'll pull to the ground the whole fabric of 
For the base that it stands on is Slavery, 
And Slavery stands 'on the Bible, you see !' 
Thus the hypocrites talk," the fiend said. 
No wonder our cause has successfully sped ! 
With Press, Politician, and Parson to back, 
The ' chivalrous ' sons of Dixie may crack 
Their whips on the naked hide of the black, 
Either woman or man, and none dare ask : * Why 
Do you practise this devilish cruelty ?' 

But more of the Press, or rather that portion 
That has shown to our cause or respect or devo- 
tion ; — 



50 THE DEVIL TN DIXIE. 

Why, some of the piousest journals plead 
"With all their might for Slavery's creed ; 
While more than one Christian book-printing So- 
ciety 
Have long ago felt the plain propriety 
Of expunging from all their pages each plea 
That may squint at the guilt of slavery. 
The very school-books are expurgated 
Of every sentence that may be rated 
As giving the merest hint that may seem 
To favor Freedom, that tabooed theme. 
Brother-devils, oh 1 isn't this most glorious ? — 
This American ' Index Expurgatorius !' " 

The orator then presented to view, 
How the cause of Slavery flourished and grew ; 
How, when Press and Pu]j)it were muzzled and 

quiet. 
Or else had sold out to the " soul-driving " crew, 
The knights of the lash did exult and riot ; 
And mean politicians bowed at their feet, [do. 
And besought them to say what more they should 
In order their lordly wishes to meet. 
And give them full proof of their servile devo- 
tion ; 
And how, that, the ball being well set in motion, 
One slice, then another, of fair territory 
"Was purchased, or conquered, and eagerly thrown 



THE DEVIL IK DIXIE. 61 

In tlie ravenous jaws of Lucifer's pet ; 
How, tlie more it had, the more it would get — 
Twas a long but a very delightful story ; 
And the fiend waxed warm with the pleasing re- 
cital 
Of how his pains-taking had met its requital ; 
How Fugitive Slave Laws were made and enforced ; 
How the hounds of the South o'er the free North 

coursed, 
And the runaway seized in their bloody jaws, 
And, sumptibus 'puhlicis^^ dragged him along 
To his horrible doom, the coflcle and thong ; 
"While crafty statesmen the populace held. 
And, their generous instincts rebelling, quelled 
By crying : " Friends, let's obey the laws ! 
Let's stand by the Union and Constitution, 
Which sustain this 'peculiar institution I'" 

" But," said he, " to persuade them there were 
not decrees 
And laws that were higher than any of these, 
Was too much for a statesman's abilities ; 
But when divine doctors said that wasn't so, 
What could they do, but their scruples forego ? 
The more so, when, as I've already reported, 
They preached that the Bible this system sup- 
ported. 

* At the public expense. 



52 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

There were other popular whims, moreover, 
From which I once thought' they would never re- 
cover ; 
Thus, 'twas tough to induce them to throw away 
Their characteristic love of fair play : 
Some would clamor for this when a victim they 

saw 
Sent back to his fetters by one-sided law : 
And they cursed such law ; and they questioned 
the grace [race ; 

Of the whole man-stealing and slave-catching 
And gave them and their churches all to the devil, 
An act, some would say, more honest than civil ! 
But again some sound doctor, with might and 

main. 
Would argue the matter as thus : ' My men, 
I assure you you're not at all orthodox ; 
And you're lacking in Christian charity, 
Or such hard and merciless verbal knocks 
You would spare our brethren, the ' Chivalry.' 
Their cause you traduce is a righteous cause ; 
These laws you decry are beneficent laws ; 
And you'll find it so, if you'll be so good 
As to study well the Levitical Code. 
I refer you to Thormvell^ Palme/% Van Dyhe^ 
And as many such saints North and South as you 
like, 



THE DEVIL IX DIXIE. 53 

Who'll give you a proper interpretation 
Of all the Mosaic Slave Legislation. 
Trust tJiem^ I beseech you, and sternly reject 
The ' isms ' of every radical sect : [Beechers^ 

Cut loose from the Tyngs^ Gheevers, Thompsons^ and 
They're a pestilent set of heretical teachers : 
And mark ! ne'er hear Phillips or Garrison more, 
For they'll hurry your soul to the devil, sure. 
Take Southerners for your political teachers, 
And Souih-side saints for your only preachers. 
Now, why should you frown on that Christian 

slaveholder ? 
You certainly must be more reckless, and bolder 
Blasphemers than I ever took you to be. 
If you say that his piety stands for naught. 
Because he his lawful chattel has caught! 
Let me tell you, in Church Communion 
He ranks as a regular 'A No. 1 !' 
"Why scowl on that honest mechanic ? He 
Did quite right in forging the chain for that black, 
Who ungratefully turned on his master his back. 
Why glower on that merchant for selling a whip 
Wherewith to scourge that base runaway sore, 
And teach him to wrong his owner no more ? 
That mechanic and merchant are both devout men ! 
You should pause before you find fault with them, 

when 



54 • THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

The wine of commnnion tliey solemnly sip, 

And eat of the sacramental bread, 

And to all the vain things of the world seem 
dead — 

And when Bibles and Tracts they dispense in pro- 
fusion, [sion, 

What ! say that those men are with sin in collu- 

Or are ever the victims of guilty delusion ? 

Delusion! "When such is the strength of their 
piety, 

They're the patrons of every worthy society ; 

And their names are repeatedly seen in print 

Appended to figures that show no stint! 

shame ! never harbor hard thoughts again 

Concerning such generous Christian men ! 
And then, don't you know the Apostle Paul 

Sent Onesimus back to his lawful thrall ? 

Can you wish a more striking proof than this, 

That there is nothing in slavery at all amiss ? 

Let a runaway slave just stop at my door. 

And I tell you, sirs, as sure as fate, 

I'd deliver him up to his master straight. 

Yes, sirs, I would ; and I'd even do more ; 

I'd send back my dearest friend — my mother. 

As readily as I would another ! 

What a trifle were this little self abnegation, 

When yielded to just and wise legislation ! 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 55 

Away with your infidel nonsense ! — psliaw ! 
Don't talk to me of a " Higher Law." ' " 

Thus the fiend quoted a learned D.D., 
And seemed to enjoy it with unctuous glee ; 
And said he, " We'll some day have a rousing fire, 
And promote our good friend to the rank of a/ryer, 
For the zeal with which he's, upheld the laws, 
And pleaded so well our noble cause." 

He then proceeded, in voluble phrase, 
To show his success in a thousand ways, [hand 
When conscience-seared wretches joined hand in 
To give him unlimited sway in the land : 
And among the rest of the things, said he, 
'' The doom of Freedom's a settled thing, 
Since the world will have it that ' Cotton is King,' 
And with clamorous voice cry, ' So let it be !' 
Ah ! the slave to his chariot-wheels is bound fast, 
And- will stay there so long as his kingdom shall 

last; 
And never you fear that its downfall is near. 
While the mammonist feeds and gets fat on its 

cheer. 
If an imp like me may candid be — 
And I think I may in such company — ■ 
I sajj Out on the mean hj^Docritical trick 
Of quoting the Bible for Slavery ! 
'Tis enough to make a devil pick ! 



56 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

You know tlie secret of Slavery's hold — 
It fills up the coffers of men with gold : 
That's the reason God's nnage is bought and sold ; 
And the monster, by sermon and resolution, 
Is so often declared a ' divine institution !' 
(How the numbers have waned who called slave- 
holding ' sin.' 
Since that genius invented the Cotton-Gin, 
Which rolls up the j)rofits a hundred-fold 1) 
That's why.' it is wrong that the slave should be 
freed,' 
. And ' it's dreadful to teach little niggers to read,' 
"Why, woman's flesh with the whip one may blister. 
And with cowhide and toil worry out a man's life ; 
That's why it is lawful to part man and wife. 
Tear parent from child, and brother from sister ; 
And offer for sale on the auction-block 
A man's superabundance of human stock ; . 
Among which, not seldom, may happen to be 
The fruit of his lust — his own progeny ! 
By the by, there's a phase coinciding with this, 
Which is too rich an item for me to miss." 
(He said this with a leer.) '• It's quite right, you 

see. 
That Beauty may help a man's fortune to make. 
When exchanged for the cash of the lecherous 
rake! 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 57 

All this, in a lump, and in fine, is the reason 
They brand abolitionist doctrine as treason ; 
And preach that Slavery's God's own plan 
To convert the benighted African ! 
Bat still, though I'd cast so much poison and 
death 
In each moral well and political fount. 
That Justice began to labor for breath. 
And Freedom looked pallid, and wasted away ; 
I didn't forget to take into account. 
That a sudden reaction might come some day, 
For, as I have said, I couldn't strike dead 
The honest convictions of all the divines ; 
ISTor their fullest expression in speech could I stay ; 
And a smart little number were left, whom they led 
To bend at a purer Eeligion's shrines, 
And to pray that Freedom's sceptre may wave, 
Till its blessings should come to every slave. 
And some editors, too, and some statesmen were 

left, 
Whom my cunning cantraps had never bereft 
Of the hope that the nation may yet be delivered ; 
And this ugly and barbarous structure of crime 
By the lightning of Heaven to fragments be shiv- 
ered ; 
And the temple of Freedom yet stand sublime. 
Overarching the world through coming time. 



58 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

All ! ha ! but I'd well taken care of all that, 
And fixed up a plan to defeat it flat. 
Down in Dixie I'd filled up their heads with a no- 
tion 
That I knew would some day stir up a commotion, 
And, if needed, settle the business, pat ! 
To speak in metaphorical strain, 
(A style of which, may be, I'm rather too vain,) 
Thirty years ago a brat I'd begotten 
In a South-Carolinian's fertile brain, 
A fitting companion and friend for King Cotton ; 
And, when grown to maturity, worthy to reign 
Co-sovereign with him o'er that bamboozled na- 

tion : 
Up yonder they christened it ' Nullification.' 
Dixie gladly adopted this ugly abortion. 
Yet handled the thing with commendable caution ; 
For they hardly knew what to do with it at first. 
And its nearest relation got nearly the worst 
)f the bargain, for making too much of my pet ; 
So that he was constrained, willy-nilly, to let 
The monster awhile in concealment be hid, 
Till the land was of certain antipathies rid. 
He hoped that the time was not very distant, 
When he could make it appear consistent 
For ' Chivalry's' every valiant son 
To make its avowal a sine qua 7wn. 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE, 59 

That day lias come ! full-grown they display 

This hideous thing to the light of day. 

It's so, my dear imps ; true, they've changed the 

name ; 
But the creature is every whit the same." 
But hold ! I cannot run on at this rate ; 
Or I'll tire your patience, as sure as fate. 
This imp was so wordy, his language so florid, 
And he talked so long, that the thought is horrid, 
Of inflicting upon you the rest of his speech. 
For into the " wee sma' hours " it would reach. 
He embraced, in the course of his dissertation, 
All the stunning events that have passed in this 

nation ; 
He dwelt upon presidential campaigns ; 
Fillibustering, too, in each ramification ; 
He spoke of Jimmy Buchanan's election. 
And what followed, as proving the utter rejection 
Of all that would promise the regeneration 
From Slavery's curse of this blinded nation ; 
Of the freemen's blood, that, on Kansas' plains, 
Was first poured out to artcst the tide 
Of tyranny, sweeping the nation wide ; 
And how, in spite of those martyrs' gore, 
His policy triumphed yet the more. 
He gloated over the " Bred Scott Becision," 
As helping along the country's division — 



60 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

Division, of course, preliminarj, 
As was plainly sliown by this devil wary, 
To a Slavery-worshipping Eeconstruction, 
That could but end in tlie final destruction 
Of tbe nation not only, but Freedom, moreover. 
Through the tribes of mankind the wide world 
over. 

He told of party corruption and strife, 
That was worrying out tlie nation's life ; 
And said that three fourths of tbe people were will- 
ing 
That oppression's blood-stained rod should rule 
A country once trained in Liberty's school, 
And seemed to have had there the best of drilling. 

He chuckled delightedly whilst he told, 
How truculent partisans greedily sold 
The nation's honor for office and gold ; 
How they cheated by regular system and rule ; 
How the " Old Public Func." was his pliant tool ; 
Eeadily taking his gentlest hint, 
And truckling to traitors without any stint ; 
How he took for advisers a graceless batch 
Of secesh fire-eaters, ready to catch 
At every chance to seize on the spoils 
Of office, and cunningly wind the toils 
Eound the helpless limbs of poor " Uncle Sam ;" 
And by dint of the logic of Hell to cram 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 61 

The doctrine of " State Eights " down the throats 
Of the gullible masses ; and so, bj their votes, 
Secure the triumph of Slavery's cause, 
And strengthen its arm by more stringent laws ; 
How he had secured the Sons of the Brogue 
On the side of Oppression ; and every rogue ' 
With the '' gift of the gab," and employed their 

glib tongues 
In declaiming on Dixie's ''grievous wrongs ;" 
How he'd fleeced '' Uncle Sam " of gun, powder, 

and shell, 
And got Dixie ready to pitch in pell-mell, 
And blow the old Union up with a crash. 
That would all its free institutions smash. 
And then he told how, when all was rcadj^, 
With gaze unintermitting and steady, 
They watched for a pretext to strike the blow 
That should lay the form of Liberty low ; 
And how, to give them the best of a start, he 
Had split up the Democratic Party ; 
Making way to set in executive throne 
A man who, in every nerve and bone, 
To Freedom's tottering cause was devoted ; 
And how by that stroke was the pretext supplied 
To knock Freedom over, the Union divide, 
And the triumph of Might over Eight decide. 



62 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

" Oil ! lio !" said this devil, " how my eyes 

gloated, 
To see how nicely I'd opened the way 
For setting a-going a bloody fray, 
That should end in the wildest devastation 
That ever swept o'er a devoted nation !" 

And now he had come to the pith of his story ; 
For nothing tickles a devil so much, 
As to witness, or even remember such 
Wild scenes of strife and battle gory, 
Such savage collision, and martial rage. 
As have lately filled our historic page. 
He dilated on what he called the " fun" 
Of the first shot fired from rebel gun ; 
And rushed on with language faster and faster, 
In describing each crushing Union disaster ; 
How hosts of the Union heroes fell. 
In fighting Secession, Slavery, and Hell ; 
How the barbarous traitors denied to those braves, 
'Keath the slave-cursed sod, their well-earned 

graves ; 
How of patriots' bones were made trinkets rare, 
To set off the charms of the Eebel fair ; 
How imprisoned martyrs languished and died 
By thousands, in Richmond's loathsome dens, 
And remoter Southern prison-pens, 
By slow starvation savagely plied ; 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 63 

And how Northern households mourning went 
For their sons to such hopeless slaughter sent : 
And you ought to have heard this devil crack 
Of the generalship of "Little Mac!" 

He laughed at the popular indignation » 

"Which first met this Kebel manifestation ; 
And how quickly that stream he was able to dam, 
By the help of his friends, Yallandigham, 
Cox, Brooks, Burr, Ben and Fernando Wood, 
And a hundred others just as good. 
With plenty besides of the smaller fry, 
Who could lustily yell the party cry. 

Then he told how the Kebels ravaged the seas,^ 
And on every water succeeded with ease 
In sweeping the Yankee commerce away ; 
How the Rebel flag was floating gay 
From many a steamship's and gunboat's mast I 
And, to show how sure it was, at last. 
That the Union was gone, he told how, abroad. 
The Aristocrats did the Rebels applaud. 
And help them, moreover, with ships, and loaus. 
And martial equipments, and ammunition. 
Feeling sure of Treason's full fruition. 
And that soon they would hear " Uncle Sam's " 
death-groans. 

He dwelt with delight on the devils' work 
Which his faithful servants had done in Kew- 
York; 



64 THE DEVIL IK DIXIE. 

And told his delighted hearers the tale 
• That has made Humanity's cheek turn pale — 
Though, of what the applause of traitors earned — 
Of how harmless men were hanged and burned, 
On account of their owning a dusky skin — 
Atrocious, unpardonable sin ! — 
How shillalies descended with murderous whacks 
On the heads of the poor, defenceless blacks ; 
How dark-skinned orphans were burnt out of 

home, 
And, shelterless, forced abroad to roam ; 
And how Seymour the Syndic condescends 
To call those assassins his " very dear friends !" 
" Ha ! ha !" said the imp, " what matter to us, 
The few lovers of Liberty making a fuss 
In praise of Abe Lincoln's Proclamation, 
Decreeing the slaves' emancipation ? 
"We may laugh to scorn such impotent acts 
While opposed to them stand these telling facts.''' 

Thus this imp, with eye like electric fire, 
Soared onward in eloquence higher and higher. 
Till he carried his hearers again away ; 
And Old ISTick once more succumbed to the sway 
Of his brilliant bursts of rhetorical thunder ; 
And surely there never was thunder profound - 

er 1 
The patron saint he well might be 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 65 

Of the demagogues of the " Chivalry," 
Or the dough-faced spouters for Slavery. 

He paused in his speech ; and, though he'd not 

done. 
His audience rose to their feet, every one ; 
You ne'er saw so enthusiastic a crew. 
The old Chief rose, too, and he gave them the 

cue; 
In tones that a mortal ear would stun, 
' Three cheers !" cried he, " for Slavery ! 
Three more for my sort of Democracy I 
Pet name for most mean Aristocracy ; 
Its real import, Duhcracy ! 
Go it, my devils ! thunder it out ! 
Let the world up yonder hear your shout ! 
That's glorious, my devils ! well done, well done ! 
And now three more for Jeff Davis & Co. ! 
That's good — that's capital I There — so, so ! 
Don't split yourselves, devils, there's one more to 

go;^ 
Three special good ones for Seymour and * friends !' 
They've aided our cause beyond all praise ; 
Their devotion to us all other transcends ; 
Shout, then, till your voices the roof shall raise!"' 
They shouted ; 'tis well you heard not that shout, 
The lamp of your life would have been blown 

out! 



66 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

They shouted ; and true as Diabolus spoke, 
The lofty roof of that dome was broke, 
And was all blown away ; and where it fell 
It would puzzle the shrewdest devil to tell. 
And mortals just then were beard to talk 
About having felt an earthquake shock ! 

But look! What strange vision is that over- 
head, [dread 
"Where the dome so late spanned, that with sudden 
Convulses the features of every devil ? 
What sad foreboding behold they of evil ? 

Ah ! there stands a radiant form aloft 
With a visage that beams with triumph and scorn : 
And high in her fair right hand is borne 
A banner resplendent with glittering stars. 
And legends covering it over, that scoffed 
At Secession, and Hell, and every plan 
They'd devised to accomplish the ruin of man. 
Thereon were inscribed, in letters of light. 
Victories won by the stout arm of Eight ; 
And victories, also, that should be yet won. 
And pledged by the deeds already done : 
For a Heaven-commissioned seeress was she 
Who waved that Flag of Liberty. 
There were other triumphs, besides, on record, 
Won, or to he won, not by the sword, 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 67 

But by tlie unbloodj and wise legislation 
Of a chastened, mourning, repentant nation ; 
Victories o'er passions and feelings unkind ; 
Triumphs o'er prejudice mad and blind ; 
Eetrieving the wrongs that, for hundreds of years, 
Had covered the land with" blood and tears ; 
Lifting a down-trodden, outraged race 
To its long- denied yet God-given place, 
"Where the chances of life and its joj^s are as fair 
As Humanity's children's anywhere. 

The eyes of that rabble, with hopeless gaze, 
Were fixed on those legends, and stars' bright rays 
That studded that glorious flag of the free, 
The fair symbol of coming jubilee, 
No more to be trod in the mire of disgrace. 
And as they gazed, tormented, amazed, 
On the Hell-scathing emblems that banner re- 
vealed 
On every fold* of its dazzling field. 
Those devices were suddenly all erased ; 
And pictures of glory, that withered their sight. 
Were revealed to their view in heaven's own 
light. 

There were myriads of freemen marching along. 
With victorious tramp, and exultant song ; 
And millions of bondmen, now set free. 
Had joined in that march of victory ; 



68 THE DEVIL IN" DIXIE. 

Before tliem the lierds of Rebellion fled, 
Eacli seeking in vain to hide his head 



From the vengeful flash of those freemen's brands, 
Held firm in the grasp of unflinching hands. 

The scene then changed; and the next view 
ranged 
Through all the cities and towns of the nation 
These fiends had doomed to extermination.' 
Thej beheld vast crowds of men, now free 
From the bonds of party tyranny, 
Casting their ballots with resolute will — 
Ballots headed, "Union and Liberty !" 
O Diabolus 1 that was a bitter pill ! 
And down thy throat it had to go, 
Sadly against thy stomach, I trow ! 

But, presto ! The election scene is gone ; 
And another, as blasting to Satan, is shown. 
All at once there are thousands of 'pulpits re- 
vealed, 
And every pulpit with preacher is filled ; 
And before them sit crowds with attentive ears ; 
And the words of those preachers each devil hears : 
For by powers mysterious those spirits possessed, 
The visions both eye and ear addressed. 

The preachers were all denouncing Secession ; 
ISTot only Secession, but Slavery as well — 
The hateful cause of rebellious aggression ; 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. ' 69 

Denouncing tliem both as begotten in Hell, 
And fit only together with devils to dwell. 
They prayed to the God of Hosts to fight 
With his conquering arm, for Freedom and Eight. 
And among the divines that preached thus and 

prayed, 
Were most of the men who had lent their aid; 
Either active or passive, in former days, 
To Lucifer's plan. Freedom's fane to raze ! 
As true as you live, once pro-slavery preachers 
Were now what he cursed, and called "freedom- 

screechers ; 
He was mad when he called them that ngly name ; 
But who the poor checkmated devil could blame ? 
That vision, too, passed from the field of sight ; 
And a number of others as galling quite, 
Moved in rapid order before their view, 
Until dizzy and faint each devil grew ; 
And when the last picture had faded in air, 
And evanished, also, that angel fair. 
There was heard from invisible choirs to rise 
A chorus of sweet, thrilling harmonies. 
Filling those fiends with dreadful surprise — 
For music a devil with agony hears, 
Especially such as now smote their ears. 
List to the anthem ! — ay, let it be sung, 
Not only by angel but mortal tongue. 



70 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

Swell tlie triumpli I Eaise the song ! 
Earth and Heaven the notes prolong ! 
Blessings Heaven sends down to man ; 
Peace sncceeds War's cruel ban. 
Broke the proud oppressor's rod 
By the strong right hand of God ; 
Weak the strength of Freedom's foes, 
When to vengeance he arose. 

Hail, Columbia ISTow arise I 
Grod accepts thy sacrifice : 
Purified from Slavery's stain, 
Union now is thine again. 
Faithful to thy holy trust, 
" Lift the prostrate from the dust ; 
So thy radiance far shall glow, 
Brighter for thy days of woe. 

Hencefo:tth float, O banner free I 
Over land and over sea ; 
Bear thou to the tribes of earth 
Freedom's boon of priceless worth. 
Despot's terror, bondman's light, 
Chase from earth tyrannic night : 
Fling thy gleaming stars on high, 
Long to shine in Freedom's sky. 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 71 

Let the high, inspiring strain 
Thrill the air from main to main ; 
Might and Eight join hand in hand ; 
Mercy's arms enfold the land. 
Swell the triumph ! Eaise the song ! 
Earth and Heaven the notes prolong ! 
Blessings Heaven sends down to thee, 
Nation ransomed, saved, and free ! 

Thus ended the devils' grand jubilee ; 

Thus was turned to howling their boisterous glee : 

The hellish rabble now felt pretty sure 

That their frolic was rather premature ! 

Aghast, they rushed from their council-hall, 

Diabolus, eloquent devil, and all ; 

They sought in the fiery lake to hide 

Their deep disappointment and wounded pride, 

And confessed, as they plunged in the burning 

flood. 
Their weakness in coping with Freedom's God I 



PO STSCEIPT 



Time— Apeil 9, 1865. 

So closes my narrative, done up in verse ; 
It might have been shorter and ended worse ; 
And have suited so well the devil's views, 
That the lightning would never have brought us 

the news 
That makes all the people now feel so jolly ; 
And that doubtless convinces the "Kebs" of their 

folly, 
In humoring Lucifer up to his bent. 
By trying to smash up this Government. 

When Jeff and Lee out of Kichmond did clear, 
Each with a very large "flea in his ear ;" 
And later, when Grant, with strategic bag, 
Snared those hosts of "Johnnies," "bobtail, tag, 

and rag," 
It seemed as though most of the vision bright 
Which brought on those devils' frolic a blight, 
Had turned out a matter of history, quite ! 



THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 73 

Do the poet the justice, then, to suppose 
That he saw some distance beyond his nose. 

But a fig for the poet I Give to the men, - 
Who have struggled so long in the serpent's den, 
The justice, the honor, the praise that is meet ; 
The reptile of treason lies dead at their feet ; 
Their well-wielded weapons have slavery killed ; 
Their victories the nation with joy have thrilled. 
Hurrah for our soldiers ! the noble, the brave, 
Whose heaven-nerved arms did our country save I 
Hurrah for the chieftains who've led them on I 
Grant, Sherman, Kilpatrick, and Sheridan ; 
Ben Butler as well — for his record proud, 
Shall never be dimmed by obloquy's cloud I 
Hurrah for all who for Country and Eight 
Have headed our heroes with valor and might ! 
Hurrah for the soldiers with. -sable faces / 
Who have helped put the rebels through their 

paces ; 
And who made *' dare ole massas' " coat-tails fly, 
As they scampered from Richmond with speed so 
high ! 

Hurrah for the States of the Union grand. 
That now on the rock of Liberty stand ! 

Hurrah for the statesmen, who firm have stood 
'Gainst both bribe and threat of the traitor brood ! 



74 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

For ''Father Abraham," honest and true; 

The man who has given " the devil his due;" 

And who, in this hour of our nation's glory, 

Is reminded, no doubt, " of a little story I" 

Hurrah for the wives, sweethearts, sisters, and 
mothers, 

Who have given their sons, lovers, husbands, and 
brothers 

For their country's salvation ; and stifled the cries 

That sought vent from the heart's deep agonies 1 
A sorrowful sigh and a silent tear 

For the thousands henceforth to their country 
dear; 

Who have fallen while grappling with Treason's 
horde. 

And whose forms lie so still 'neath the cold green- 
sward. 
But to Grod be high praise for the victory 

That indeed makes Columbia the "Laod of the 
Free I" 



ANOTHER POSTSCRIPT! 





ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 1 






DIED 






A 


MARTYR 


FOR COUNTRY 

APRIL 15, 1865. 


AND 


FREEDOM, 



Mournfully falls the measured toll 
Of the funeral bell on the nation's soul ; 
And the fretted dome of cathedral grand, 
And the roof of the humblest fane in the land, 
Alike resound with the requiem's wail ; 
And the preacher's voice, as he dwells on the tale 
That has changed to mourning the joy of the land ; 
How the ruler, faithful and pure, by the hand 
Of the vile assassin and traitor, died 
In the hour of the country's triumph and pride. 



76 THE DEVIL IN DIXIE. 

What ! has Lucifer taken fresh heart, and deemed 
His cause from defeat may yet be redeemed ; 
Not he ! there lie lies in the gulf below, 
Where our narrative left him short time ago : 
And no resurrection his hopes shall know. 

'Tis the last spent ripple of Treason's wave, 
Whose impulse at first the devil gave ; 
'Tis Tophet's senior scholars' act ; 
'Tis a blow, though stunning, that more impact 
Has the friends of freedom and Union di'awn ; 
That hastens, not hinders, the rosy dawn, 
Presaging the ri^e of Liberty's sun, 
To set no more till Time's work is done. 

Yes, mourn, sad people I let every bell 
Roll forth the good marl's funeral knell I 
Then, O nation ! arise from thy prostrate woe, 
To strike at Treason thy final blow ! 
And, the days of thy fiery trial past, 
Thy sins atoned and forgiven at last. 
Thy banner of freedom for ever shall wave 
O'er Secession and Slavery's hated grave I 



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